Dubai: Merck Foundation Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and 14 First Ladies inaugurated the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit. The event took place on June 19th and 20th in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
According to African Press Organization, the summit was led by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative. The First Ladies from 14 African and Asian countries attended as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, enhancing the event's significance.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized the importance of the platform for exchanging experiences and discussing the impact of programs aimed at transforming patient care and raising awareness on critical social and health issues. Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp highlighted the Foundation's goal of improving health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and providing access to quality healthcare solutions in Africa, Asia, and beyond.
The First Ladies, serving as Ambassadors of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother, included representatives from Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. They played a key role in discussing strategies and solutions for health and social challenges in their countries.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej also shared that Merck Foundation has provided over 2500 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 medical specialties. The summit coincided with the World Infertility Awareness Month and highlighted the Foundation's efforts in empowering infertile and childless women through its More Than a Mother campaign. Out of the total scholarships, over 700 have been awarded for training in fertility care and women's health.
The summit also marked the 8th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 13 years of its development programs. The first day featured a plenary session and a high-level ministerial panel discussion with African ministers and healthcare experts. The second day included sessions on oncology, fertility topics, and a community awareness session on health media training.
The conference, conducted in a hybrid format, reached over 6,000 participants from more than 70 countries, promoting discussions on health and social challenges. The event was streamed live on social media platforms, allowing wider engagement and participation.
Merck Foundation's initiatives include training over 3700 media persons, launching various awards, producing songs and storybooks, and providing scholarships to empower underprivileged African schoolgirls. The Foundation continues to address social and health issues through its various programs and initiatives.